subject: Construction Site Accidents Faqs [print this page] When you walk down the street or in malls, office buildings, and houses -- you will see all these are products of the construction industry. You should appreciate all the structures that are around you because construction workers exerted a lot of effort when making them.
People who are working in construction site are often at risk of injuries because they are required to work for long hours. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), around 18 percent of all construction workers needed to work for at least 45 hours each week in 2008. In other instances, workers are even required to work during holidays or weekends just to repair broken structures or meet a certain deadline.
Construction site workers can also be involved in an accident because they are required to operate heavy and dangerous equipment. They can be injured if the tools they are using are defective or if they were not able to use them properly.
Taking legal action after a construction site accident may not be easy for you because there are different parties who may be liable for your injuries. If you want to know more about this kind of accident, it is advisable that you read and understand these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: Am I entitled to recover damages or benefits other than the ones provided by the workers compensation insurance after I sustained injuries in a construction accident?
A: If other parties are at fault in the accident, then you can sue them even after being compensated by workers compensation insurance. For example, you may be allowed to sue the landowner if he failed to inform you and your employer about the dangerous condition of his property.
Q: Who are the people responsible in keeping a construction site safe for workers?
A: It is the job of the general contractor and property owner to make sure that the workers will be safe from possible harm while they are at the construction site.
Q: I am not a construction worker, but I was injured due to falling debris while I was walking near the area. Can I recover monetary damages for my injuries?
A: It depends if you were on a public sidewalk when the accident occurred. If you are, then the construction company may be liable for your injuries because it should have taken various steps to make sure that people who are walking near the construction area will not be hit or injured by debris.
